Kindergarten registration for schools in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District starts on Feb. 19. Children who turn 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2014, are eligible to enroll in the upcoming 2014-2015 school year.
Transitional kindergarten, a program for children who will turn 5 years old between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2 of this year, will also be available for registration.
Early registration for both programs is advised. Registration will take place from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. on weekdays at all elementary schools.
Parents must be able to provide proof of address (such as a utility bill), legal proof of the child’s age (such as a birth certificate), and the child’s complete immunization records in order to register. State law requires that children have a chickenpox vaccine and DTaP (diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus), polio, Hepatitis B, and MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) immunizations before they enter kindergarten.
Registration should occur at an elementary school close to the parents’ home. A home address should be made available to the office staff members so they can determine which school the child will attend next year. Translation and assistance for Spanish-speaking parents is available.
Early registration will help guarantee parents a space for their children at their neighborhood school. If classes are full, students who enroll late might not be able to attend the school closest to their home.
For more information about kindergarten and transitional kindergarten registration, call an elementary school or the Santa Maria-Bonita School District at 928-1783.
This article appears in Feb 20-27, 2014.
